Four clients are seated at a table when the nurse brings in medications for one client.
The nurse will determine identity by:

Choice A rationale

Asking which client is supposed to have medications compromises patient privacy and could lead to medication errors if an incorrect patient self-identifies. Proper patient identification is a fundamental safety measure, requiring objective verification to ensure the right medication is administered to the right patient.

Choice B rationale

Stating the patient's name and expecting a confirmation ("You are Mrs. Wilson, aren't you?") is a leading question and does not independently verify identity. A patient could respond affirmatively without truly being Mrs. Wilson, increasing the risk of medication errors by not adhering to objective verification protocols.

Choice C rationale

Asking if anyone knows Mrs. Wilson is an inappropriate and unprofessional method for patient identification. It breaches patient confidentiality and does not provide a reliable or direct means of verifying the intended recipient of medication, potentially leading to significant medication safety issues.

Choice D rationale

Checking the client's identification bracelets while the client states their name provides two independent identifiers, which is a standard and highly reliable method for patient identification. This dual verification minimizes the risk of medication errors by confirming both physical identification and the patient's verbal confirmation before administration.